Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-07-12
ROBARD's SUDDEN DEATH.
his spirit Passes On to He Tried
Reforc a, Higher Tribunal.

On last Tue sday night row oc
Cured between a hatek-driver named
Frank Parker and Alert Robard,
from the effects of which, Indirectly
speaking, it is claimed the latter Cled,
yesterday morning. According to
Robard's story, on the evening in
question, he met Parker in a Main
street saloon, and, at the latter's re-
quest, he joined him for ride around
town in one of Parker's hacks. After
driving around for a short while, the
vehicle stopped in froot of one of the
dens on Alameda street, and Parker
asked him to go in. He felt incensed
at the proposition, and refused, He
alighted from the vehicle and was
about to depart, when Charles Stan
ley, the driver of the hack, wanted to
know who was going to pay the bill.
Parker was silent, and Robard implied
that he had accepted Parker's offer,
and consequently he did not
feel disposed to foot the bill. He said
that he was about to depart when he
was pounced upon by Parker and the
driver of the hack, and in self defence
opened his pocket knife and slashed
the back of Parker's head open. He
in turn was felled to the ground by a
blow from heavy fence picket
welded by Stanley. The two COM
batants then reentered the hack and
were driven to the city prison. They
looked pretty well beaten up, espeei-
ally Parker, who presented the ap-
pearance of man who had been
scalped. Robard's injuries did not
amount to much, so he was immedi-
ately locked up. DR.. Cole was tele-
phoned for to attend Parker. He
found him laid out comfortably in one
of the cells and bleeding profusely
from his wound. He was patched up
and taken to his home shortly after
wards.
Robard fingered in the cell for two
days and then was released upon furn-
ishing a bond for $500. On
last Saturday his examination
came up before Judge Austin and he
was held to answer before the Superior
court upon " ClldTpc VI dSSdltlt w NIL,
with bail set at 1900.
Early yesterday morning he called
his wife and told her that he heard
the peals of the church bells and that
she had better 60 to her devotions.
She complied, and upon returning she
was horror-stricken to find that his
spirit had passed on to be tried before
a higher tribunal. The Coroner was
notified and theremains were removed
to the undertaking rooms of Garrett Il
Hertzke, on Main street. Yesterday
afternoon DIR. Cohn held an autopsy,
which revealed the fact that death
was caused by heart troubles, and not,
as was supposed by many, from the
effect of the blow from the picket over
the left eye.
Shortly after the news of RObard's
death reached the police station Chief
Skinner, without waiting for the issu-
ance of warrant, had Parker and his
driver, Stanley, confined within the
limits of a cell. AS soon as he was
notified of the result of the autopsy,
he realized that the prisoners could
not be connected with the killing at
Robard, and discharged them.
An inquest was held last night by
Coroner Meredith and a verdict of
death from internal hemorrhage
caused by rupture of the heart, was
rendered.
The wife of deceased testified that a
few days ago her husband told her
that he thought he.wa going to die
from the effects of the blows received
during the row.